Full Breakdown
Firefighters Contain Blaze at Leverington Building Planned for Asylum-Seeker Housing
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at Roman Court, a former sheltered-housing complex in Leverington, on a Wednesday evening at 19:26 BST. The building, currently empty but earmarked for conversion into accommodation for asylum-seeking mothers and babies, was attacked by flames that prompted the deployment of 21 fire crews. Units from Wisbech, March, Dogsthorpe, Stanground, Outwell and West Walton in Norfolk were mobilised to prevent the fire from spreading. The service reported that no injuries occurred and that the blaze was being fully extinguished before an investigation into its cause begins.
Background and Context
Earlier in the month, local residents staged peaceful protests after the Home Office informed Fenland District Council that the Leverington site could provide 26 bed spaces for mothers and babies. The property, listed for auction in October 2025, comprises 21 self-contained flats—16 studios, four one-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit—and holds planning permission for single-storey extensions to four flats. The protests reflected community concerns over the proposed use of the site for asylum-seeker accommodation.
Official Response
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service emphasized that crews were “working hard” to control the fire and protect surrounding structures. The service indicated that a formal investigation will be launched once the fire is fully extinguished to determine its origin.
Operational Details
Significance
The incident underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding the conversion of vacant properties into asylum-seeker housing. While the fire caused no physical harm, it occurred amid local opposition to the Home Office’s accommodation plan, highlighting the intersection of emergency response, housing policy, and community sentiment in the region.